Determination of carbonate in the presence of hydroxide: Part 2. Evidence for the existence of a novel species from first-derivative potentiometric titration curves

An additional maximum has been detected in the differential potentiometric titration of mixtures of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate with hydrochloric acid using pH-responsive glass electrodes. This maximum is not detected under the following conditions: if ethanol (mol fraction >0.2) or t-butanol (mol fraction >0.1) is added; when the temperature is raised above 55°C; when hydrogen gas is bubbled through the solution; if a hydrogen gas electrode is used instead of the glass electrode; when carbonic anhydrase is added. The additional feature is ascribed to a new species HCO₃·H₂CO₃^- formed in solutions by a slow reaction.